Adjustable truss



May 1l, 1954 J. DE MOT-r ADJUSTABLE rmuss Filed July 21, 1952 M j H y INVENTOR. :l2/Paye 04F/arf B Y zvafw/S/ f sertion of a Patented May 11, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICE Jerome 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a truss for support ing and retaining muscles in apposition in cases of hernia.

An object of the invention is to provide a truss in which a pad for supporting muscles is constructed in a manner to permit of the convenient insertion therein of soft compressible filler elements so as to afford the required support and which are removable and replaceable as required.

vide a truss in which the pad is provided with a resilient backing adapted to engage over one end of a bowed spring member for fastening the truss in position on the body of the wearer and which backing is expandable to permit of the inrigid supporting member and the required number of filler elements.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a truss of said character in which the bowed spring member is formed with a coiled supporting the pad about the periphery thereof whereby the central portion of the pad is adapted to provide the proper resilient support for the focal area of the hernia.

Still another the invention is to provide a truss which is highly efficient, simple in structure and which is comfortable to the wearer. With the foregoing and other objects in view, reference is now made to the following specification and accompanying drawings in which the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view of a truss constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken approximately on line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken approximately on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a similar view with one of the filler elements removed.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, the truss consists of a resilient longitudinally bowed member I0 having a terminal end II of looped formation and a terminal end I2 of circular formation to which a soft compressible cushion or pad I3 is removably attached. The bowed member I0 is preferably fashioned of a spring wire I4 to provide the necessary resiliency for engagement about a portion of the human body with pad I3 disposed in overlying tensioned relation against the muscles at the focal area of the hernia or rupture and with the terminal end II resiliently engaging Still another object of the invention is to pro i end for ADJUSTABLE TRUSS De Mott, Long Is to Watkins Surgical N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application July 21, 195,2, Serial No. 300,025

assignor York,

(Cl. 12S- 105) against the portion of the human body opposite the hernia or rupture. The spring wire It is disposed within a soft nexble rubber tube Iii which extends continuously about the terminal ends II and I2. The looped portion forming the terminal end II extends through a relatively larger soft compressible rubber tube It which has limited area to contact with the body of the wearer so as to prevent undue heating thereof and which by its resiliency and compressibility provides a comfortable engagement with the body of the wearer.

The circular portion forming the terminal end l2 is disposed in a plane substantially parallel with the plane of the terminal end I I and is integrally connected with the bowed member I0 by a coiled portion I1 which increases in size ind I2. The cushion the terminal end I2 adjacent the outer periphery thereof with the permitting of the flexing of the cushion or pad I3 annularly about the center through the pad and coil as indicated by the broken line I8. The cushion or pad I3 includes a soft compressible wall I9 formed of felt or equivalent soft material which is adapted to engage against the body of the wearer in the region of the hernia or rupture and to which is secured fastening wall The backing 20 is of iiexble elastic material which is adapted to stretch for resiliently engaging over the terminal end I2 for mounting the cushion or pad on the bowed member I0. The backing 20 is formed with a central opening 22 which is adapted to be expanded for inserting the terminal end I2 in position between the backing and the wall I9. A relatively stiff member 23 is supported on the terminal end i2 and between the stit member 23 and the inner face of the wall I9 a pocket 2li is provided for receiving one or more soft compressible filler elements for supporting the wall I9 in bowed relation in cross-section whereby the cushion or pad provides the greatest support at the focal area or center area of the hernia or rupture. As illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, two such filler elements 25 and 25 are provided in the pocket 24, the filler element 2t being smaller than the ller element 25 while in Fig. 5 of the drawings a single filler element 2l is provided.

In order to retain the truss in position, an adjustable strap or band 29 is provided which is looped about the terminal end II to secure the same thereto and is provided with a metal hook adgusting the length thereof 'I'he strap or band on, a soft compressible pad having an elastic engages about the body of the wearer in opposite backing secured thereto continuously about the relation from the bowed member l0 so as to seedge portion thereof and providing an opening, cure the bowed member I0 in position and pre- 1o said bowed member extending through said open- Vent displacement of the cushion or pad I3. ing with the inwardly oiset terminal end disat is claim d is: posed in tensioned relation between the backing through said opening with the inwardiy oiset 20 ends and adapted to engage about the body of said pad and backing providing a pocket for re- 25 ceiving a soft compressible ller element be- References Cited in the le 0f this patent tween thepad and the supporting member, and UNITED STATES PATENTS an adjustable band connected at its opposite ends o sald tei mina] ends and adapted to engage about N umher Nfmle Date the body of e wearer opposite the bowed mem- 30 1345'139 Cunningham June 29' 1920 

